Westmeath footballers to face Laois once again

(Above) Westmeath's John Heslin in action against Dublin's Michael Fitzsimons.

Westmeath will kick off their Leinster SFC campaign with a quarter final clash against Laois after securing a first round bye in this morning's draw.

The game will give Jack Cooney's men the chance to exorcise the ghosts of the defeats to the O'Moore County in both the 2018 and 2019 Leinster Championships. Westmeath last victory in the provincial competition was back in June 2017 when they defeated Offaly.

The draw, which took place on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, saw seven teams, including Westmeath, in one bowl, while four other teams, Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Meath, were automatically through to the quarter final.

Of the seven teams, six were drawn out in three round 1 ties, with the other, Westmeath, through to the quarter final.

The full draw is: Round One: Offaly v Louth; Wicklow v Wexford; Carlow v Longford

Quarter-finals: Kildare v Offaly/Louth; Dublin v Wicklow/Wexford; Laois v Westmeath; Meath v Carlow/Longford

Fixtures details and venues will be confirmed at a later stage in what is a straight knockout competition this year.